Soliya Reflection 

My experience with Soliya was very eye-opening and exciting. Being exposed to a hub of diverse ideas across different topics really allowed us to explore them  in both depth and breadth, making topics I once saw as boring or over-discussed feel fresh again.

My group was very animated and engaged, which helped discussions flow naturally and become more enriching. We constantly bounced ideas off each other, whether in agreement, building on points, or offering alternative perspectives. My group was made up of many different nationalities, including participants from Pakistan, Italy, Tunisia, America, and more. Even within America, despite being in the same state, people had very different experiences due to factors like race. This pushed our discussions beyond surface level and made the experience genuinely enlightening and valuable.

Our chosen theme was Education, which opened up conversations about different education systems, obstacles, philosophies, the use of AI, and hopes for change across our countries. After returning with our interviews, these discussions expanded even more, covering the value of different elements within each system, the role of politics in education, truth versus nationalism, as well as the downfalls and benefits of each system. 

One thing that really surprised me was hearing that many countries face challenges similar to those in Egypt. I had always assumed that Egypt was still developing in this sector in comparison, but it seems we are relatively fair, just lacking in resources. This made me realize that the issue may be less about the system itself and more about funding, unlike other countries where people face deeper structural challenges.

These conversations also made me question why I expected my country to be inferior in terms of education, especially when Egypt has produced incredible individuals like Magdi Yacoub and Ahmed Zewail. It made me realize that while it’s important to recognize flaws, it’s not fair to completely dismiss the system. This reminded me of The Danger of a Single Story, and how my westernized upbringing may have shaped the way I view other education systems as lesser.

This also connected to a topic we discussed in Soliya about American textbooks and how they can be very nationalistic, sometimes shaping or even distorting the truth. While I was somewhat aware of this, I didn’t realize that these narratives can actually vary across states and even depend on school funding. For example, schools with a higher percentage of students of color were sometimes exposed to different versions of history. It was also disappointing to see how Black history is still not fully represented despite claims of progress, showing that there are still clear issues within the system.

Another theme that came up was how we can educate our communities about youth initiatives and whether real change is sustainable. Personally, I feel like for change to happen, it often has to be “trendy” or visible, but others were more optimistic, believing that if younger generations are educated with deeper understanding, change can actually last. This idea that older mindsets can slowly phase out over time was interesting and gave a sense of hope.

This cross-cultural experience paralleled our field trip experience at Tahrir Campus where we were asked to discuss various metaphors and sayings in Arabic and English. The parallel comes through how simultaneously similar yet different cultures are. My group noticed how both languages were saying the same thing, but using different rhetorics , aligning with their culture and stories, yet teaching the same principle.  This concept was evident in Soliya, where many countries had the same goal to change various issues, but the execution differed. A discussed example of this was with smoking. Every country wants this vice eradicated but realistically, controlled. However , every country attacked the issue differently, whether it be through increased taxes, laws, or carefully curated advertisements and campaigns. When writing this reflection, I love the invisible venn diagram between the countries, and how truly different but inseparable humanity is. It feels like a little sister trying so hard to be different from her older sister, but at the end, they share the same DNA- cute! 

In all seriousness, I do believe that if humanity more consciously embraced the idea of individuality within a community, racism and prejudice could significantly decrease. At the same time, I’m aware of how fortunate I am to engage in intercultural spaces without the barrier of language. One key takeaway from reading Lina Mounzer is that translation can never fully capture the depth, beauty, or true intention behind a language. Because of this, when we talk about reducing cultural prejudice, the ability to understand or directly engage with different languages becomes incredibly important. Being in spaces where communication flows easily opens doors to deeper knowledge and empathy, while many others don’t have that same access, which can slow the process of becoming more open-minded toward different cultures. Thus I am very grateful for both Soliya and the course. 

Overall, the Soliya experience really pushed me to question my assumptions, reflect on my perspectives, and better understand both my own system and others. I feel like I was able to contribute insightfully, allowing my peers to get a glimpse of the Egyptian and British perspective when discussing our topics.